Goading or provoking (8)
I believe the answer is:
needling
This clue is a double definition.
'goading' is the first definition.
('needle' can be a synonym of 'goad')
'provoking' is the second definition.
(needling is a kind of provoking)
(Other definitions for needling that I've seen before include "irksome" , "Provoking or annoying by continual criticism" , "Doing embroidery" , "Aggravating" , "Goading or provoking" .)